Volunteer Network Receives Grant

Volunteer Network Receives Grant

Date of Record: January 4, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 4, 2006

For More Information:
Julie Geltmaker, Teen Action Project Coordinator, City of Bloomington Volunteer Network, 349.3860
Bet Savich, Director, City of Bloomington Volunteer Network, 349.3472
Maria K. Heslin, Communications Director, City of Bloomington, 349.3569

Bloomington, IN - Mayor Mark Kruzan announced today that the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network was recently granted $5,000 from the Points of Light Foundation's Service-Learning Impacting Citizenship Program.

The grant will support the 2006 Teen Action Project (TAP), which is hosted by the Volunteer Network and provides teens with a skill set valuable in being active and engaged citizens.

"We appreciate this valuable opportunity from the Points of Light Foundation," Kruzan said. "I encourage youth in the Bloomington community to apply for this unique and exciting program. It will help build strong r�um�, strong relationships and a stronger community."

This grant provides the necessary funding and basic curriculum for the third installment of the Teen Action Project. Through a series of eight workshops, TAP offers teens the opportunity to work closely with City of Bloomington Volunteer Network staff and community members to identify issues faced by the city and to learn tangible ways to address those needs.

TAP teens also will participate in several community service events, culminating in the formation of a youth-only team for the Homeward Bound Walk on April 2, 2006.

Workshop topics covered in TAP include:
Defining Civic Engagement
Understanding Your Role As A Citizen
Citizen Impact
Articulating Vision & Recruiting Others
Planning Service Events To Promote Understanding
Creating A Plan Of Action
Resolving Conflict
Advocacy As Action

TAP sessions will begin in late January. For more information contact Julie Geltmaker at 349.3860 or [geltmakj@bloomington.in.gov|mailto:geltmakj@bloomington.in.gov].

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